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jail delivery

American  

noun

  1. a liberation of persons from prison, especially by force.

  2. the act of clearing a jail of prisoners by bringing them to trial, as at the assizes in England.


jail delivery British  

noun

  1. forcible and illegal liberation of prisoners from jail

  2. English law (formerly) a commission issued to assize judges when they come to a circuit town authorizing them to try all prisoners and release those acquitted

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of jail delivery

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

What cries of joy, what sobs of relief from the saner inmates, as they try to think their new, almost incredible jail delivery!

From Orphans of the Storm by MacMahon, Henry

Suppose Mrs. Godd could be induced to help in a jail delivery!

From 100%: the Story of a Patriot by Sinclair, Upton

Due to the foregoing circumstances, Lanier's jail delivery was eminently successful.

From Overshadowed A Novel by Griggs, Sutton E. (Sutton Elbert)

They have never had a jail delivery here, you know.

From The Land of Frozen Suns by Sinclair, Bertrand W.

In fact, to tell the whole truth, there was a jail delivery week ago, which has been kept secret up to now.

From The Airplane Boys among the Clouds or, Young Aviators in a Wreck by Langworthy, John Luther

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